Dear GSBS Students:
What are your career plans once you complete your graduate degree? The biomedical research workforce has numerous opportunities for professionals with the skills you are developing. Have you thought beyond the obvious?
You can't start too early to build your CV, define your goals, and position yourself for success. The goal of this Career Corner is to provide you access to ideas and resources that will help you plan your next steps towards a fulfilling career. New features will appear bi-weekly, so check it often for ideas that might interest you.
Deans Barton and Blackburn
Career Corner posts
November 1: myIDP - Learn all about this unique, web-based career-planning tool tailored to help you explore career possibilities and set goals to follow the career path that best fits you.
November 15: Mocktails II - This event is the perfect opportunity to have your resume reviewed by science professionals and to ask questions about how to ace a job interview.
December 6: Advice from Alumni: Every person you meet when on an interview is evaluating you, including the janitor, the waiter, the driver, the secretary, the students, and the hotel worker. Don't let arrogance or condescension during interactions with those of 'lesser stature' than the position being sought ruin your chances in securing the job. -- Danny R. Welch, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Cancer Biology; Kansas University Medical Center; Kansas City, KS
January 10, 2013: MD Anderson Professional Development Videos: This link provides a series of videos that cover a variety of topics from interview skills to finding alternative careers in science. It's a great resource to use to tackle your New Year's resolution to start planning your career path.
January 24: Communicating Science: Need some pointers on how to give a great scientific talk? Then checkout this career development guide from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund that provides advice and tips from scientific speakers about preparing presentations. (Including technology to use and horror stories about talks gone wrong.)
February 7: Advice from Alumni: Seek opportunities to develop skills in writing publications, grants, giving presentations and obtaining certifications, because these talents are crucial for establishing leadership in your career. -- Jeff Walterscheid, Ph.D., Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
February 21: Trying to find a career path outside of the usual fields (i.e. academia) may be difficult, but this blog post featured on BenchFly.com helps demystify one of the frequently referenced career options for Ph.D.s: Consulting.
March 7: Seminar: Careers in Science and Technology: Wednesday, March 20, 2013; noon-1:30 p.m.; MSB B.645. The Graduate Student Education Committee is presenting a talk by Neal Lane, Ph.D, Senior Fellow at the Baker Institute at Rice University. Dr. Lane will cover his vast career which included working at the White House. To RSVP, please send an email to ms.graduateeducation@uth.tmc.edu by March 18.
March 21: 2nd Annual Presidential Career Symposium: Registration is now open for this event, scheduled for May 23 and sponsored by the MD Anderson Postdoctoral Association, that will offer all GSBS students and postdocs the opportunity to network and learn from experts on how to succeed in various career fields. See link for full details.
April 4: TexasLifeScience.com, a web resource that is part of a specialized nationwide network of state-based life science websites, has an extensive listing of job postings from across the state and country. Check them out here.
April 18: Student Business Cards are now available. To submit your request, please submit an online form.
GSBS BioCareers
This seminar series sponsored by the Student Affairs Committee is dedicated to career development for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Seminars will be held on the first Wednesday of the month from 5-6:30p.m. in the GSBS Large Classroom (BSRB S3.8344). See link for full schedule.
February 6: How to successfully interview and network
March 6: How to effectively present your science
April 3: How to secure a job in industry
Career Development Seminar Series
Sponsored by the GSBS Student Affairs Committee, these series of seminars will focus on preparing students for their future careers. Seminars will be held on Thursdays from 4-5p.m. in the GSBS Large Classroom.
New course: Management of Technology: The first in a series of online courses designed to introduce participants to a broad range of topics related to management of technology and technological innovation in biomedical fields. The course will include discussion of technology development in industry, academia and government, the process of innovation, and incorporating technology change into a company structure and strategy. The 8-week (February 25 - April 19) course is offered through the UTMB Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS) as part of the new Texas Regional CTSA Collaborative Innovation & Entrepreneurship Training Program. The registration deadline for this course is February 15.
Advocacy & Action: Stepping Up to Strengthen Career Opportunities in Science: Tuesday, February. 19, 4-5p.m., GSBS Large Classroom (BSRB S3.8371) This Gulf Coast Consortia special seminar will feature Mary Woolley, President and CEO Research America.
Career Development Resources
The purpose of this page is to provide information for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the areas of careers and career planning (see also Employment Links).
One Year Plan -- an article from The Chronicle of Higher Education on how to organize your time so that you complete your last year of graduate school with both a Ph.D. and a fulfilling new job
Alternative Careers
Other occupations to consider including companies and organizations that employ scientists:
Occupational Outlook Handbook -- Bureau of Labor Standards site includes job titles and descriptions, the outlook for specific occupations and sources of career information
National Association of Colleges and Employers Jobwire -- linking jobs, job seekers, and job-search information
IC2 (Innovation, Creativity, Capital) Institute of The University of Texas at Austin -- IC2 is an organization that uses modern technologies to link research universities, businesses and other resources in order to promote economic development and revitalization
GSBS Alumni In-Reach Mentoring Program -- GSBS alumni in a wide variety of occupations assist students with job and career-path decisions
Academic Advising Resources on the Internet -- a site developed for the National Academic Advising Association as a starting point for academic advisors and others who are beginning to explore the Internet (primarily graduates/undergraduates)
Workshops and Seminars
Workshops and seminars will be offered to the student body at various times throughout the year. Please monitor your e-mail account (uth.tmc.edu) for announcements.
